Housing Minister Kris Hopkins MP says a programme to build up to 165,000 affordable homes over three years is an essential part of the Government’s long-term economic plan.

Housing associations, councils, and housebuilders were this week invited to bid for Government funding. Combined with private investment, this is expected to deliver a £23 billion programme between 2015 and 2018.

Supporters say by putting in more private sector funding than previous programmes, the scheme seeks to achieve a much better deal for taxpayers.

Mr Hopkins said: “Housebuilding is an essential part of this Government’s long-term economic plan. That’s why we have designed an ambitious new scheme to build affordable homes at the fastest rate for 20 years.”

Mr Hopkins says housebuilding is at its highest level since 2007, and construction orders are increasing at the fastest rate for ten years, but it was now vital that councils provided more land for homes, as the surge of housebuilding continues to grow.